Obama's Reelection
Means 'More Bad News' for Europe (HospodarskeNoviny, Czech Republic)
"In purely
pragmatic and political terms, as seen from the White House, why would the old/new
president cultivate special relations with the old/sick continent? Consequently,
in his second term, his views on Europe will be even more skeptical and
detached."
The outlook on Europe
of America's newly-reelected president is more skeptical and detached. He will
push the old continent aside in favor of Asia, predicts Martin Ehl, chief foreign affairs correspondent for HospodarskeNoviny [Economic News].
In every poll, Europeans indicated that if it were up to
them, they would rather have seen Barak Obama in the White House over Mitt
Romney. Obama reminds them more of their own politicians, with a stronger
tradition of the social state than billionaire Romney, who at least hopped over
to Europe during the course of the presidential campaign, in contrast to the
current and future American president. [Editor's Note: Mitt Romney is a millionaire,
not a billionaire].
From the point of view of supporters of traditional
transatlantic relations, the reelection of President Obama heralds more bad
news. Obama's foreign policy will push aside Europe in favor of Asia.
But for their part, besides shared values, Europeans don't
offer anything particularly favorable to Obama. They can't even cope with their
own economic crisis, the common currency and European integration on their own.
[Posted
by Worldmeets.US Nov. 7, 12:57pm]
So in purely pragmatic and political terms, as seen from the
White House, why would the old/new president cultivate special relations with the
old/sick continent? Consequently, in his second term, his views on Europe
will be even more skeptical and detached.
On the other hand, the U.S. and E.U.
together account for half of global GDP, and trade volume between them accounts
for approximately one third of all global trade. America and Europe are deeply
intertwined, even if a treaty on a transatlantic free trade zone has been awaiting
negotiation and signing since 1997.
Obama has tried in vain to convince European leaders to
address the economic crisis more radically and decisively. For the European
left, Obama’s victory could be a symbolic and visual shot in the arm - and they
will ally themselves with him.
But it would be much better if the European leaders on the left
and right were inspired not by Obama’s rhetoric, but by some of the actions he has
taken in time of crisis, as they were fast, tough (including bankruptcy) but
effective solutions for saving some car companies and banks.
